OFC Champions League

Group A will be held in Vanuatu from 10-18 February, with local debutantes Nalkutan FC joined by Papua New Guinea's Lae City Dwellers, Ba FC from Fiji and the winners of the Qualifying Stage.

Tahiti's AS Dragon will host Group B in Papeete, which also features New Caledonia's AS Lossi, Erakor Golden Star from Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands champions.

Defending champions Auckland City will host their group for the second year running, from 24 February to 4 March, alongside Fiji's Lautoka FC, Madang FC from Papua New Guinea and AS Venus of Tahiti.

Lautoka haven’t made an appearance in the region’s premier international club competition since 2011, and made sure their return would be a deserved one.

The side remains undefeated in the national league, topping the table with 34 points with one last match to play against Rewa.

Despite falling short in both the Fiji Fact and Battle of the Giants, Kamal Swamy’s side regrouped to ensure a fairytale run to the OFC Champions League maintaining an unbeaten run of 13 consecutive league games.

But the Solomon Islands champions admit they'll need to be at their very best to upset hosts and Group D leaders AS Tefana in Papeete.

The Honiara club was 4-2 winners against Fiji's Rewa in their first match but suffered a frustrating 2-1 defeat to Vanuatu side Erakor in midweek.

They need to beat Tefana by at least two goals to give themselves a chance of progressing to the next round and coach Juliano Schmeling said anything was possible.

However with a match against rising Solomon Islands powerhouse Marist in their final Group D match, the race to claim that berth in the semi-finals alongside Team Wellington and AS Magenta is far from over.

For his part, Marist coach Juliano Schmeling believes if his side can pick themselves up following their loss to Erakor Golden Star, then anything could happen on the day.

“It’s definitely not easy with the way we lost our second match, but Friday will be a big day because at least three teams are still in the running.”

Puaikura opened the day’s action at Loto-Tonga Soka Centre in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, securing their place at the top of the table with a 3-1 win against Utulei Youth.

The match started slow, not seeing a goal until additional time in the first half when Pekay Edwards put his side ahead after  getting his toe to the ball in a period of scrappy play in the Utulei Youth penalty box.

Cook Islands champions Puaikura thrashed Veitongo FC from Tonga 4-0 on Saturday while Lupe edged American Samoa's Utelei Youth 4-3 in their opening encounter.

Puaikura coach Matt Calcott said his side was a bit rusty first up but should be better for the game.

"We're hoping to see an improvement in combinations, possession and probably a little bit more pressure. Our pressure lines need to be improved and we'll make sure they are given the work we've done in training this morning," he told OFC.

He said the whole squad knows how much is riding on today's game.

Paul Ualesi led the team to the same stage in 2015, defeating the likes of Puaikura, Lotoha'apai United and SKBC along the way.

Lupe Ole Soaga missed out on Champions League play altogether last year, with the Kiwi club representing Samoa, and also making the group stage.

However Ualesi spent 2016 building on his coaching skills and taking the Samoa Under 20 team under his wing.

He said it had made him a good coach.

Coach Paul Ualesi remains at the helm, and having added Samoa U-20 head coach to his CV in the meantime, he said he feels more than qualified to help take the squad through to the Group Stage for a second time.

Ualesi led the Samoan club champions during their 2015 debut and after defeating all three contenders in front of a home crowd during the qualifier, Lupe Ole Soaga continued that momentum in Fiji.

RNZI reports Monday's clash against Nadi FA is being investigated after both teams were reduced to eight players by the full-time whistle.

Kiwi were 3-1 up inside 21 minutes but a four-goal haul from Nadi's Anish Khem gave the Fijians a stunning comeback win.

Kiwi trio Desmond Fa'aiuaso, Lionel Taylor and Lawrie Letutusa were sent off by the referee and given automatic suspensions.

Attention returned to Group C on Match Day 4 at Auckland’s QBE Stadium and there was certainly much for those in attendance to mull over with both fixtures providing no shortage of talking points.

The tone of the action-packed day was set within minutes of the opening game, a typically feisty Francophone derby between New Caledonia’s AS Magenta and their Tahitian rivals AS Tefana, who finished the game with just nine players on the park.